Wind and Truth - Trailer Concept

[Akimikoisthecutest]

On 11/11/2025 at 12:56 PM, VieB13 said:

Can anyone on here actually make this? Bc I’d watch that over and over and never get tired of it. 
you get all the stars. Ever. 

NVM

Edited November 21, 2025 by Akimikoisthecutest

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

1 minute ago, Akimikoisthecutest said:

So, me and my friends want to try to animate this. Would that be ok @Hoid Slayer?

You can't

Dragonsteel policy

[Akimikoisthecutest]

Aww

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

1 hour ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

You can't

Dragonsteel policy

Lamentably, this is true

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

Sorry this took me so long

Email draft for Brandon:

Spoiler

Hey Brandon,

I'm [my name] (Ookla the Redeemed on the 17th Shard, normally go by Hoid Slayer), and I'm a huge fan of your Cosmere books. I don't know if you'll ever see this message, but I just wanted to share with you a fan work I made of Wind and Truth (which, btw, is my favorite book of all time as of now). I originally posted this trailer concept on the 17th Shard fansite, and at the suggestion of some other members there, I have decided to try to share it directly with you.

The trailer script here is decently long, so it would probably be the final trailer before the release, not that it really matters in this case.

Not every scene in this trailer concept is actually in the book; but we can assume they took place, at some point or another.

In the trailer concept on the 17th Shard (

Voiceover sound generally corresponds to the scene below it.

Music is intended to be an epic, highly edited version of Half Light by BANNERS.

Needless to say, spoilers for Wind and Truth ahead (although of course, that's not a concern for you):

...

(black screen)

Silence.

Then thunder.

(Shot pans around Dalinar as he stands atop Urithiru, holding the Way of Kings in one hand. He overlooks the landscape as the Everstorm rages below the tower)

Music begins. Song mark ≈ 0:00

(Smooth transition to a mirroring shot of Shallan, standing atop Lasting Integrity overlooking Shadesmar with the same camera angle. Pattern and Testament stand nearby.)

First musical beat. Song mark ≈ 0:04

(Remaining members of Bridge Four party (muted sound), while Kaladin watches on wistfully from the doorway. Syl, life size, puts her hand on his shoulder.)

Nohadon's voice: "The question... is not whether you will love,

(Black and white shot, Endgame trailer-style, of Kaladin playing in the fields with Tien as kid)

"Hurt,

(Black and white young Shallan stands, holding a Shardblade, in a pool of red blood)

"Dream,

(Young Shallan entertains her brothers, before looking back towards a doorway across which in another room, her father screams at his lover and hits her)

"And die."

(Black and white older Kaladin holds Tien's body in his arms, weeping to the world, in a field of corpses)

Silence.

Fade to black.

Music crescendos.

(Series of flashes of quick shots: Kaladin carries a bridge in Sadeas's army. Kaladin stands above the Honor Chasm. Kaladin is strung up on the roof of the barracks, ravaged by the Highstorm, left to die)

Music stops.

Fade to black.

Heavy breathing.

Footsteps clatter.

(Alternating, quick flashes of darkness and Kaladin's feet racing against the rough dirt of the Shattered Plains)

Music explodes.

(Kaladin, Radiant, leaps across the chasm to the Tower, absorbing Stormlight from the parshendi. He lands, and a blast of Stormlight sends everything pushed back. From here on, the scenes are still black-and white, except the characters and Stormlight are in color)

"It is what you will love,

(Shallan, also exempt from the black-and-white, draws on the boat approaching Kharbranth)

"Why you will hurt,

(Kaladin stands between Moash and the conspirators, wielding Syl as a spear, protecting Elhokar)

"When you will dream,

(Shallan stands in front of a mirror on her wedding day. Behind her, Veil and Radiant walk up and place their hands on her shoulders)

"and how you will die.

(Kaladin falls through the sky, until suddenly exploding in a burst of radiance. Armor forms around him, and he catches Lirin)

"This is your choice."

(Kaladin lifts Lirin back up to safety, and cleanly joins the battle in Urithiru)

Song Mark ≈ 0:51. Voiceover change to Dalinar: "What is the most important step a man can take?

(Black and white scene of younger Dalinar standing above the burning Rift, blade outstretched, eyes alight with flaming fury)

"The next one. Always the next one."

(In the present, (no longer black-and-white) Dalinar, triumphant, delivers a rousing speech [no voice in the trailer] to the Coalition. Around him, people nod at his words as he gestures forcefully at a map of Roshar)

Song Mark ≈ 1:03. Child Szeth's voice: "But... how do you know what to do?

(Young Szeth dances around the family rock)

"The right choices. How do you know what they are?"

(Young Szeth weeps in the rain, holding up blood soaked hands and kneeling before Molli's corpse)

(Older, but still young, Szeth defeats a pirate in hand-to-hand combat, then, chest heaving, looks down at his bloodied hands before glancing at the camera with a murderous gaze)

Song Mark ≈ 1:18. Lirin: "Somebody has to start. Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right.

(A grinning Adolin greets Azish generals in the dome, shaking hands, Colot at his side)

"If nobody starts, then others cannot follow."

(A wave of Regals crashes against the Azish line of defense at the dome, and Adolin, glowing in brilliant shardplate, stands against them, a light in the darkness)

Song Mark ≈ 1:28. Hoid: "It will get worse again. Then better.

(Dalinar and Navani trot along Shin foothills, with a pack of ancient Singers. Dalinar stops, and pauses to overlook the expansive landscape)

"This is life. And I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine.

(Dalinar and Navani fight as Knights Radiant in a Desolation. They pause to overlook a valley, where Fused and Radiant forces crash into each other)

(Navani holds Gav close to her chest, a worried expression on her face as she looks around in a rainy camp)

"But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say."

(Kaladin lands alongside Szeth to look over the plains of Shinovar (essentially the first concept art piece Brandon released))

Kaladin and Hoid, together: "You WILL be warm again."

(Kaladin dances with Syl, who morphs in his hand from spear to woman. They laugh, together)

Song Mark ≈ 1:54. Gavinor: "Everyone dies. So many people. Killing.

(Abidi the monarch stands in the Azish dome, Fused forces surging to battle around him. He looks at the camera, demonic grin on his face)

"And dying.

(Aerial shot of Vyre's body, strewn on a snowy mountaintop, eyes burned out, being found by Fused)

"And killing.

(El wipes a bloody knife)

"And dying.

(Close-up of Mraize's face as he sits on his chair in the Ghostbloods headquarters, sipping a drink carefully)

"So many being killed..."

(Back view of Ishar walking up an outcropping in the foothills of Shinovar as the sun rises before him, lines of Connection leaking from his fingertips)

Song Mark ≈ 2:18. Adolin: "People break. And sometimes...

(Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain look through a Spiritual Realm barrier at the smoky form of Ba Ado Mishram. Shallan outstretches her hand towards the barrier)

"The strong ones break harder than the weak ones. Because they're the ones you pile everything on top of."

(The floor beneath Shallan gives way, and she falls through a Spiritual Realm vortex of memories)

(Young Renarin is held against the wall by a squad of bullies)

Song Mark ≈ 2:32. Hoid: "Would that any of us could protect ourselves from the costs that heroism often requires.

(Abidi stalks, grinning with blade in hand, towards Shallan who is scrambling on the floor of an ornate room)

(In the hospital beside Taln, Ash lowers her head and weeps)

"But again, if there were no cost, no sacrifice...

(Jasnah kneels in a Thaylen temple, face obscured. Fen walks up behind her)

(Sigzil holds a corpse in his arms, and raises his head to scream)

"Would it be heroism at all?"

(Aerial view of Sigzil lashing himself across a battlefield in the Shattered Plains, strewn with corpses and wreckage, rain pouring. Sigzil slashes mercilessly through Fused after Fused, face stone)

Fade to black.

Song Mark ≈ 2:44. Music dims.

Adolin: "The four of us. Drinks, once this is done. Promise me."

(Adolin huddles with Kaladin, Shallan, and Syl in Azimir.)

Shallan: "Promise."

(Everyone turns to Kaladin, who looks down. Finally, he looks up.)

Kaladin: "Drinks. Jokes. Laughter. At the end. I PROMISE."

Music strengthens back up.

Hoid: "Everything you've done - everything you've been - has prepared you for what's next."

(Venli pushes open the entrance of a cave and steps out into the Listener camp. Massive chasmfiends lounge in the sun)

Fade to black

Music dims. Mournful, but slowly strengthens steadily.

"We're heading straight into the most difficult moment in our lives."

(Quick shot of Adolin and Shallan embracing, foreheads touching, eyes closed)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Kaladin leaving Azimir for Shinovar, resigned, and lashing himself)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Szeth reaching into an alcove in a wall, and pulling out a small toy sheep. A tear falls down on the wool)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Dalinar Kholin climbing the steps up to Urithiru, face stern, Way of Kings in hand, with a shadow looming over him (essentially the second piece of concept art Brandon released))

"Remember."

Music explodes in rapid bursts

Black screen w/caption: Urithiru

(Quick shot of Renarin, Shallan and Rlain on the fields outside Urithiru, looking ominously into the distance)

"Hope is wonderful."

Black screen w/caption: Shinovar

(Spinning camera around Szeth and Kaladin brandishing weapons back to back, but without clear view of who they're fighting)

"Keep it."

Black screen w/caption: Azimir

(Quick shot of Adolin rushing across Fused forces in the dome in full plate, leaping over bodies and soldiers to get to Neziham)

"Treasure it."

Black screen w/caption: The Shattered Plains

(Quick shot of Listeners riding Chasmfiends into battle on Narak Prime)

"And if hope doesn't mean anything to you when you lose..."

Black screen w/caption: Thaylenah

(Quick shot of Jasnah summoning Ivory while watching ships prepare for war in the harbor)

Black screen w/caption, in different, crackly font: The Spiritual Realm

(Quick shot of Dalinar and Navani pushing their way past human pilgrims during their arrival in Roshar)

"Then it wasn't ever a virtue in the first place."

Fade to black. 

Music stops.

Azish general screaming hauntingly: HOOOOOOOOOLD!!

Silence.

Taravangian's voice, taunting: Dalinar, Dalinar, Dalinar...

(Close up of Taravangian's eyes flashing open, revealing infinite depths of gold and red)

Fade to black.

Hoid: This... it frightens me.

For those who want to see my upgraded version of the trailer script nicely organized:

Spoiler

The trailer script here is decently long, so it would probably be the final trailer before the release, not that it really matters in this case. This took me way longer to make than I thought it would. Finding quotes for the voiceovers was especially grueling. So, yeah. Here it is.

Not every scene in this trailer concept is actually in the book; but we can assume they took place, at some point or another.

Words in red describe the sound playing; normal words describe what's on the screen.

Voiceover sound generally corresponds to the scene below it.

Music is intended to be an epic, highly edited version of Half Light by BANNERS.

Needless to say, spoilers for Wind and Truth ahead:

...

(black screen)

Silence.

Then thunder.

(Shot pans around Dalinar as he stands atop Urithiru, holding the Way of Kings in one hand. He overlooks the landscape as the Everstorm rages below the tower.)

Music begins. Song mark ≈ 0:00

(Smooth transition to a mirroring shot of Shallan, standing atop Lasting Integrity overlooking Shadesmar with the same camera angle. Pattern and Testament stand nearby.)

First musical beat. Song mark ≈ 0:04

(Remaining members of Bridge Four party (muted sound), while Kaladin watches on wistfully from the doorway. Syl, life size, puts her hand on his shoulder.)

Nohadon's voice: The question... is not whether you will love,

(Black and white shot, Endgame trailer-style, of Kaladin playing in the fields with Tien as kid)

Hurt,

(Black and white young Shallan stands, holding a Shardblade, in a pool of red blood)

Dream,

(Young Shallan entertains her brothers, before looking back towards a doorway across which in another room, her father screams at his lover and hits her)

And die.

(Black and white older Kaladin holds Tien's body in his arms, weeping to the world, in a field of corpses)

Silence.

Fade to black.

Music crescendos.

(Series of flashes of quick shots: Kaladin carries a bridge in Sadeas's army. Kaladin stands above the Honor Chasm. Kaladin is strung up on the roof of the barracks, ravaged by the Highstorm, left to die)

Music stops.

Fade to black.

Heavy breathing.

Footsteps clatter.

(Alternating, quick flashes of darkness and Kaladin's feet racing against the rough dirt of the Shattered Plains)

Music explodes.

(Kaladin, Radiant, leaps across the chasm to the Tower, absorbing Stormlight from the parshendi. He lands, and a blast of Stormlight sends everything pushed back. From here on, the scenes are still black-and white, except the characters and Stormlight are in color)

It is what you will love,

(Shallan, also exempt from the black-and-white, draws on the boat approaching Kharbranth)

Why you will hurt,

(Kaladin stands between Moash and the conspirators, wielding Syl as a spear, protecting Elhokar)

When you will dream,

(Shallan stands in front of a mirror on her wedding day. Behind her, Veil and Radiant walk up and place their hands on her shoulders)

and how you will die.

(Kaladin falls through the sky, until suddenly exploding in a burst of radiance. Armor forms around him, and he catches Lirin)

This is your choice.

(Kaladin lifts Lirin back up to safety, and cleanly joins the battle in Urithiru)

Song Mark ≈ 0:51. Voiceover change to Dalinar: What is the most important step a man can take?

(Black and white scene of younger Dalinar standing above the burning Rift, blade outstretched, eyes alight with flaming fury)

The next one. Always the next one.

(In the present, (no longer black-and-white) Dalinar, triumphant, delivers a rousing speech [no voice in the trailer] to the Coalition. Around him, people nod at his words as he gestures forcefully at a map of Roshar)

Song Mark ≈ 1:03. Child Szeth's voice: But... how do you know what to do?

(Young Szeth dances around the family rock)

The right choices. How do you know what they are?

(Young Szeth weeps in the rain, holding up blood soaked hands and kneeling before Molli's corpse)

(Older, but still young, Szeth defeats a pirate in hand-to-hand combat, then, chest heaving, looks down at his bloodied hands before glancing at the camera with a murderous gaze)

Song Mark ≈ 1:18. Lirin: Somebody has to start. Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right.

(A grinning Adolin greets Azish generals in the dome, shaking hands, Colot at his side)

If nobody starts, then others cannot follow.

(A wave of Regals crashes against the Azish line of defense at the dome, and Adolin, glowing in brilliant shardplate, stands against them, a light in the darkness)

Song Mark ≈ 1:28. Hoid: It will get worse again. Then better.

(Dalinar and Navani trot along Shin foothills, with a pack of ancient Singers. Dalinar stops, and pauses to overlook the expansive landscape)

This is life. And I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine.

(Dalinar and Navani fight as Knights Radiant in a Desolation. They pause to overlook a valley, where Fused and Radiant forces crash into each other)

(Navani holds Gav close to her chest, a worried expression on her face as she looks around in a rainy camp)

But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say.

(Kaladin lands alongside Szeth to look over the plains of Shinovar (essentially the first concept art piece Brandon released))

Kaladin and Hoid, together: You WILL be warm again.

(Kaladin dances with Syl, who morphs in his hand from spear to woman. They laugh, together)

Song Mark ≈ 1:54. Gavinor: Everyone dies. So many people. Killing.

(Abidi the monarch stands in the Azish dome, Fused forces surging to battle around him. He looks at the camera, demonic grin on his face)

And dying.

(Aerial shot of Vyre's body, strewn on a snowy mountaintop, eyes burned out, being found by Fused)

And killing.

(El wipes a bloody knife)

And dying.

(Close-up of Mraize's face as he sits on his chair in the Ghostbloods headquarters, sipping a drink carefully)

So many being killed...

(Back view of Ishar walking up an outcropping in the foothills of Shinovar as the sun rises before him, lines of Connection leaking from his fingertips)

Song Mark ≈ 2:18. Adolin: People break. And sometimes...

(Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain look through a Spiritual Realm barrier at the smoky form of Ba Ado Mishram. Shallan outstretches her hand towards the barrier)

The strong ones break harder than the weak ones. Because they're the ones you pile everything on top of.

(The floor beneath Shallan gives way, and she falls through a Spiritual Realm vortex of memories)

(Young Renarin is held against the wall by a squad of bullies)

Song Mark ≈ 2:32. Hoid: Would that any of us could protect ourselves from the costs that heroism often requires.

(Abidi stalks, grinning with blade in hand, towards Shallan who is scrambling on the floor of an ornate room)

(In the hospital beside Taln, Ash lowers her head and weeps)

But again, if there were no cost, no sacrifice...

(Jasnah kneels in a Thaylen temple, face obscured. Fen walks up behind her)

(Sigzil holds a corpse in his arms, and raises his head to scream)

Would it be heroism at all?

(Aerial view of Sigzil lashing himself across a battlefield in the Shattered Plains, strewn with corpses and wreckage, rain pouring. Sigzil slashes mercilessly through Fused after Fused, face stone)

Fade to black.

Song Mark ≈ 2:44. Music dims.

Adolin: The four of us. Drinks, once this is done. Promise me.

(Adolin huddles with Kaladin, Shallan, and Syl in Azimir.)

Shallan: Promise.

(Everyone turns to Kaladin, who looks down. Finally, he looks up.)

Kaladin: Drinks. Jokes. Laughter. At the end. I PROMISE.

Music strengthens back up.

Hoid: Everything you've done - everything you've been - has prepared you for what's next.

(Venli pushes open the entrance of a cave and steps out into the Listener camp. Massive chasmfiends lounge in the sun)

Fade to black

Music dims. Mournful, but slowly strengthens steadily.

We're heading straight into the most difficult moment in our lives.

(Quick shot of Adolin and Shallan embracing, foreheads touching, eyes closed)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Kaladin leaving Azimir, resigned, and lashing himself)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Szeth reaching into an alcove in a wall, and pulling out a small toy sheep. A tear falls down on the wool)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Dalinar Kholin climbing the steps up to Urithiru, face stern, Way of Kings in hand, with a shadow looming over him (essentially the second piece of concept art Brandon released))

Remember.

Music explodes in rapid bursts

Black screen w/caption: Urithiru

(Quick shot of Renarin, Shallan and Rlain on the fields outside Urithiru, looking ominously into the distance)

Hope is wonderful.

Black screen w/caption: Shinovar

(Spinning camera around Szeth and Kaladin brandishing weapons back to back, but without clear view of who they're fighting)

Keep it.

Black screen w/caption: Azimir

(Quick shot of Adolin rushing across Fused forces in the dome in full plate, leaping over bodies and soldiers to get to Neziham)

Treasure it.

Black screen w/caption: The Shattered Plains

(Quick shot of Listeners riding Chasmfiends into battle on Narak Prime)

And if hope doesn't mean anything to you when you lose...

Black screen w/caption: Thaylenah

(Quick shot of Jasnah summoning Ivory while watching ships prepare for war in the harbor)

Black screen w/caption, in different, crackly font: The Spiritual Realm

(Quick shot of Dalinar and Navani pushing their way past human pilgrims during their arrival in Roshar)

Then it wasn't ever a virtue in the first place.

Fade to black. 

Music stops.

Azish general screaming hauntingly: HOOOOOOOOOLD!!

Silence.

Taravangian's voice, taunting: Dalinar, Dalinar, Dalinar...

(Close up of Taravangian's eyes flashing open, revealing infinite depths of gold and red)

Fade to black.

Hoid: This... it frightens me.

 

I haven't sent the email yet, btw - waiting for some feedback

[itskalle She/Her]

This is incredible and beautiful, I don't even have words

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

On 12/1/2025 at 2:22 PM, Ookla the Redeemed said:

Sorry this took me so long

Email draft for Brandon:

  Reveal hidden contents

Hey Brandon,

I'm [my name] (Ookla the Redeemed on the 17th Shard, normally go by Hoid Slayer), and I'm a huge fan of your Cosmere books. I don't know if you'll ever see this message, but I just wanted to share with you a fan work I made of Wind and Truth (which, btw, is my favorite book of all time as of now). I originally posted this trailer concept on the 17th Shard fansite, and at the suggestion of some other members there, I have decided to try to share it directly with you.

The trailer script here is decently long, so it would probably be the final trailer before the release, not that it really matters in this case.

Not every scene in this trailer concept is actually in the book; but we can assume they took place, at some point or another.

In the trailer concept on the 17th Shard (

Voiceover sound generally corresponds to the scene below it.

Music is intended to be an epic, highly edited version of Half Light by BANNERS.

Needless to say, spoilers for Wind and Truth ahead (although of course, that's not a concern for you):

...

(black screen)

Silence.

Then thunder.

(Shot pans around Dalinar as he stands atop Urithiru, holding the Way of Kings in one hand. He overlooks the landscape as the Everstorm rages below the tower)

Music begins. Song mark ≈ 0:00

(Smooth transition to a mirroring shot of Shallan, standing atop Lasting Integrity overlooking Shadesmar with the same camera angle. Pattern and Testament stand nearby.)

First musical beat. Song mark ≈ 0:04

(Remaining members of Bridge Four party (muted sound), while Kaladin watches on wistfully from the doorway. Syl, life size, puts her hand on his shoulder.)

Nohadon's voice: "The question... is not whether you will love,

(Black and white shot, Endgame trailer-style, of Kaladin playing in the fields with Tien as kid)

"Hurt,

(Black and white young Shallan stands, holding a Shardblade, in a pool of red blood)

"Dream,

(Young Shallan entertains her brothers, before looking back towards a doorway across which in another room, her father screams at his lover and hits her)

"And die."

(Black and white older Kaladin holds Tien's body in his arms, weeping to the world, in a field of corpses)

Silence.

Fade to black.

Music crescendos.

(Series of flashes of quick shots: Kaladin carries a bridge in Sadeas's army. Kaladin stands above the Honor Chasm. Kaladin is strung up on the roof of the barracks, ravaged by the Highstorm, left to die)

Music stops.

Fade to black.

Heavy breathing.

Footsteps clatter.

(Alternating, quick flashes of darkness and Kaladin's feet racing against the rough dirt of the Shattered Plains)

Music explodes.

(Kaladin, Radiant, leaps across the chasm to the Tower, absorbing Stormlight from the parshendi. He lands, and a blast of Stormlight sends everything pushed back. From here on, the scenes are still black-and white, except the characters and Stormlight are in color)

"It is what you will love,

(Shallan, also exempt from the black-and-white, draws on the boat approaching Kharbranth)

"Why you will hurt,

(Kaladin stands between Moash and the conspirators, wielding Syl as a spear, protecting Elhokar)

"When you will dream,

(Shallan stands in front of a mirror on her wedding day. Behind her, Veil and Radiant walk up and place their hands on her shoulders)

"and how you will die.

(Kaladin falls through the sky, until suddenly exploding in a burst of radiance. Armor forms around him, and he catches Lirin)

"This is your choice."

(Kaladin lifts Lirin back up to safety, and cleanly joins the battle in Urithiru)

Song Mark ≈ 0:51. Voiceover change to Dalinar: "What is the most important step a man can take?

(Black and white scene of younger Dalinar standing above the burning Rift, blade outstretched, eyes alight with flaming fury)

"The next one. Always the next one."

(In the present, (no longer black-and-white) Dalinar, triumphant, delivers a rousing speech [no voice in the trailer] to the Coalition. Around him, people nod at his words as he gestures forcefully at a map of Roshar)

Song Mark ≈ 1:03. Child Szeth's voice: "But... how do you know what to do?

(Young Szeth dances around the family rock)

"The right choices. How do you know what they are?"

(Young Szeth weeps in the rain, holding up blood soaked hands and kneeling before Molli's corpse)

(Older, but still young, Szeth defeats a pirate in hand-to-hand combat, then, chest heaving, looks down at his bloodied hands before glancing at the camera with a murderous gaze)

Song Mark ≈ 1:18. Lirin: "Somebody has to start. Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right.

(A grinning Adolin greets Azish generals in the dome, shaking hands, Colot at his side)

"If nobody starts, then others cannot follow."

(A wave of Regals crashes against the Azish line of defense at the dome, and Adolin, glowing in brilliant shardplate, stands against them, a light in the darkness)

Song Mark ≈ 1:28. Hoid: "It will get worse again. Then better.

(Dalinar and Navani trot along Shin foothills, with a pack of ancient Singers. Dalinar stops, and pauses to overlook the expansive landscape)

"This is life. And I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine.

(Dalinar and Navani fight as Knights Radiant in a Desolation. They pause to overlook a valley, where Fused and Radiant forces crash into each other)

(Navani holds Gav close to her chest, a worried expression on her face as she looks around in a rainy camp)

"But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say."

(Kaladin lands alongside Szeth to look over the plains of Shinovar (essentially the first concept art piece Brandon released))

Kaladin and Hoid, together: "You WILL be warm again."

(Kaladin dances with Syl, who morphs in his hand from spear to woman. They laugh, together)

Song Mark ≈ 1:54. Gavinor: "Everyone dies. So many people. Killing.

(Abidi the monarch stands in the Azish dome, Fused forces surging to battle around him. He looks at the camera, demonic grin on his face)

"And dying.

(Aerial shot of Vyre's body, strewn on a snowy mountaintop, eyes burned out, being found by Fused)

"And killing.

(El wipes a bloody knife)

"And dying.

(Close-up of Mraize's face as he sits on his chair in the Ghostbloods headquarters, sipping a drink carefully)

"So many being killed..."

(Back view of Ishar walking up an outcropping in the foothills of Shinovar as the sun rises before him, lines of Connection leaking from his fingertips)

Song Mark ≈ 2:18. Adolin: "People break. And sometimes...

(Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain look through a Spiritual Realm barrier at the smoky form of Ba Ado Mishram. Shallan outstretches her hand towards the barrier)

"The strong ones break harder than the weak ones. Because they're the ones you pile everything on top of."

(The floor beneath Shallan gives way, and she falls through a Spiritual Realm vortex of memories)

(Young Renarin is held against the wall by a squad of bullies)

Song Mark ≈ 2:32. Hoid: "Would that any of us could protect ourselves from the costs that heroism often requires.

(Abidi stalks, grinning with blade in hand, towards Shallan who is scrambling on the floor of an ornate room)

(In the hospital beside Taln, Ash lowers her head and weeps)

"But again, if there were no cost, no sacrifice...

(Jasnah kneels in a Thaylen temple, face obscured. Fen walks up behind her)

(Sigzil holds a corpse in his arms, and raises his head to scream)

"Would it be heroism at all?"

(Aerial view of Sigzil lashing himself across a battlefield in the Shattered Plains, strewn with corpses and wreckage, rain pouring. Sigzil slashes mercilessly through Fused after Fused, face stone)

Fade to black.

Song Mark ≈ 2:44. Music dims.

Adolin: "The four of us. Drinks, once this is done. Promise me."

(Adolin huddles with Kaladin, Shallan, and Syl in Azimir.)

Shallan: "Promise."

(Everyone turns to Kaladin, who looks down. Finally, he looks up.)

Kaladin: "Drinks. Jokes. Laughter. At the end. I PROMISE."

Music strengthens back up.

Hoid: "Everything you've done - everything you've been - has prepared you for what's next."

(Venli pushes open the entrance of a cave and steps out into the Listener camp. Massive chasmfiends lounge in the sun)

Fade to black

Music dims. Mournful, but slowly strengthens steadily.

"We're heading straight into the most difficult moment in our lives."

(Quick shot of Adolin and Shallan embracing, foreheads touching, eyes closed)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Kaladin leaving Azimir for Shinovar, resigned, and lashing himself)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Szeth reaching into an alcove in a wall, and pulling out a small toy sheep. A tear falls down on the wool)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Dalinar Kholin climbing the steps up to Urithiru, face stern, Way of Kings in hand, with a shadow looming over him (essentially the second piece of concept art Brandon released))

"Remember."

Music explodes in rapid bursts

Black screen w/caption: Urithiru

(Quick shot of Renarin, Shallan and Rlain on the fields outside Urithiru, looking ominously into the distance)

"Hope is wonderful."

Black screen w/caption: Shinovar

(Spinning camera around Szeth and Kaladin brandishing weapons back to back, but without clear view of who they're fighting)

"Keep it."

Black screen w/caption: Azimir

(Quick shot of Adolin rushing across Fused forces in the dome in full plate, leaping over bodies and soldiers to get to Neziham)

"Treasure it."

Black screen w/caption: The Shattered Plains

(Quick shot of Listeners riding Chasmfiends into battle on Narak Prime)

"And if hope doesn't mean anything to you when you lose..."

Black screen w/caption: Thaylenah

(Quick shot of Jasnah summoning Ivory while watching ships prepare for war in the harbor)

Black screen w/caption, in different, crackly font: The Spiritual Realm

(Quick shot of Dalinar and Navani pushing their way past human pilgrims during their arrival in Roshar)

"Then it wasn't ever a virtue in the first place."

Fade to black. 

Music stops.

Azish general screaming hauntingly: HOOOOOOOOOLD!!

Silence.

Taravangian's voice, taunting: Dalinar, Dalinar, Dalinar...

(Close up of Taravangian's eyes flashing open, revealing infinite depths of gold and red)

Fade to black.

Hoid: This... it frightens me.

For those who want to see my upgraded version of the trailer script nicely organized:

  Reveal hidden contents

The trailer script here is decently long, so it would probably be the final trailer before the release, not that it really matters in this case. This took me way longer to make than I thought it would. Finding quotes for the voiceovers was especially grueling. So, yeah. Here it is.

Not every scene in this trailer concept is actually in the book; but we can assume they took place, at some point or another.

Words in red describe the sound playing; normal words describe what's on the screen.

Voiceover sound generally corresponds to the scene below it.

Music is intended to be an epic, highly edited version of Half Light by BANNERS.

Needless to say, spoilers for Wind and Truth ahead:

...

(black screen)

Silence.

Then thunder.

(Shot pans around Dalinar as he stands atop Urithiru, holding the Way of Kings in one hand. He overlooks the landscape as the Everstorm rages below the tower.)

Music begins. Song mark ≈ 0:00

(Smooth transition to a mirroring shot of Shallan, standing atop Lasting Integrity overlooking Shadesmar with the same camera angle. Pattern and Testament stand nearby.)

First musical beat. Song mark ≈ 0:04

(Remaining members of Bridge Four party (muted sound), while Kaladin watches on wistfully from the doorway. Syl, life size, puts her hand on his shoulder.)

Nohadon's voice: The question... is not whether you will love,

(Black and white shot, Endgame trailer-style, of Kaladin playing in the fields with Tien as kid)

Hurt,

(Black and white young Shallan stands, holding a Shardblade, in a pool of red blood)

Dream,

(Young Shallan entertains her brothers, before looking back towards a doorway across which in another room, her father screams at his lover and hits her)

And die.

(Black and white older Kaladin holds Tien's body in his arms, weeping to the world, in a field of corpses)

Silence.

Fade to black.

Music crescendos.

(Series of flashes of quick shots: Kaladin carries a bridge in Sadeas's army. Kaladin stands above the Honor Chasm. Kaladin is strung up on the roof of the barracks, ravaged by the Highstorm, left to die)

Music stops.

Fade to black.

Heavy breathing.

Footsteps clatter.

(Alternating, quick flashes of darkness and Kaladin's feet racing against the rough dirt of the Shattered Plains)

Music explodes.

(Kaladin, Radiant, leaps across the chasm to the Tower, absorbing Stormlight from the parshendi. He lands, and a blast of Stormlight sends everything pushed back. From here on, the scenes are still black-and white, except the characters and Stormlight are in color)

It is what you will love,

(Shallan, also exempt from the black-and-white, draws on the boat approaching Kharbranth)

Why you will hurt,

(Kaladin stands between Moash and the conspirators, wielding Syl as a spear, protecting Elhokar)

When you will dream,

(Shallan stands in front of a mirror on her wedding day. Behind her, Veil and Radiant walk up and place their hands on her shoulders)

and how you will die.

(Kaladin falls through the sky, until suddenly exploding in a burst of radiance. Armor forms around him, and he catches Lirin)

This is your choice.

(Kaladin lifts Lirin back up to safety, and cleanly joins the battle in Urithiru)

Song Mark ≈ 0:51. Voiceover change to Dalinar: What is the most important step a man can take?

(Black and white scene of younger Dalinar standing above the burning Rift, blade outstretched, eyes alight with flaming fury)

The next one. Always the next one.

(In the present, (no longer black-and-white) Dalinar, triumphant, delivers a rousing speech [no voice in the trailer] to the Coalition. Around him, people nod at his words as he gestures forcefully at a map of Roshar)

Song Mark ≈ 1:03. Child Szeth's voice: But... how do you know what to do?

(Young Szeth dances around the family rock)

The right choices. How do you know what they are?

(Young Szeth weeps in the rain, holding up blood soaked hands and kneeling before Molli's corpse)

(Older, but still young, Szeth defeats a pirate in hand-to-hand combat, then, chest heaving, looks down at his bloodied hands before glancing at the camera with a murderous gaze)

Song Mark ≈ 1:18. Lirin: Somebody has to start. Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right.

(A grinning Adolin greets Azish generals in the dome, shaking hands, Colot at his side)

If nobody starts, then others cannot follow.

(A wave of Regals crashes against the Azish line of defense at the dome, and Adolin, glowing in brilliant shardplate, stands against them, a light in the darkness)

Song Mark ≈ 1:28. Hoid: It will get worse again. Then better.

(Dalinar and Navani trot along Shin foothills, with a pack of ancient Singers. Dalinar stops, and pauses to overlook the expansive landscape)

This is life. And I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine.

(Dalinar and Navani fight as Knights Radiant in a Desolation. They pause to overlook a valley, where Fused and Radiant forces crash into each other)

(Navani holds Gav close to her chest, a worried expression on her face as she looks around in a rainy camp)

But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say.

(Kaladin lands alongside Szeth to look over the plains of Shinovar (essentially the first concept art piece Brandon released))

Kaladin and Hoid, together: You WILL be warm again.

(Kaladin dances with Syl, who morphs in his hand from spear to woman. They laugh, together)

Song Mark ≈ 1:54. Gavinor: Everyone dies. So many people. Killing.

(Abidi the monarch stands in the Azish dome, Fused forces surging to battle around him. He looks at the camera, demonic grin on his face)

And dying.

(Aerial shot of Vyre's body, strewn on a snowy mountaintop, eyes burned out, being found by Fused)

And killing.

(El wipes a bloody knife)

And dying.

(Close-up of Mraize's face as he sits on his chair in the Ghostbloods headquarters, sipping a drink carefully)

So many being killed...

(Back view of Ishar walking up an outcropping in the foothills of Shinovar as the sun rises before him, lines of Connection leaking from his fingertips)

Song Mark ≈ 2:18. Adolin: People break. And sometimes...

(Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain look through a Spiritual Realm barrier at the smoky form of Ba Ado Mishram. Shallan outstretches her hand towards the barrier)

The strong ones break harder than the weak ones. Because they're the ones you pile everything on top of.

(The floor beneath Shallan gives way, and she falls through a Spiritual Realm vortex of memories)

(Young Renarin is held against the wall by a squad of bullies)

Song Mark ≈ 2:32. Hoid: Would that any of us could protect ourselves from the costs that heroism often requires.

(Abidi stalks, grinning with blade in hand, towards Shallan who is scrambling on the floor of an ornate room)

(In the hospital beside Taln, Ash lowers her head and weeps)

But again, if there were no cost, no sacrifice...

(Jasnah kneels in a Thaylen temple, face obscured. Fen walks up behind her)

(Sigzil holds a corpse in his arms, and raises his head to scream)

Would it be heroism at all?

(Aerial view of Sigzil lashing himself across a battlefield in the Shattered Plains, strewn with corpses and wreckage, rain pouring. Sigzil slashes mercilessly through Fused after Fused, face stone)

Fade to black.

Song Mark ≈ 2:44. Music dims.

Adolin: The four of us. Drinks, once this is done. Promise me.

(Adolin huddles with Kaladin, Shallan, and Syl in Azimir.)

Shallan: Promise.

(Everyone turns to Kaladin, who looks down. Finally, he looks up.)

Kaladin: Drinks. Jokes. Laughter. At the end. I PROMISE.

Music strengthens back up.

Hoid: Everything you've done - everything you've been - has prepared you for what's next.

(Venli pushes open the entrance of a cave and steps out into the Listener camp. Massive chasmfiends lounge in the sun)

Fade to black

Music dims. Mournful, but slowly strengthens steadily.

We're heading straight into the most difficult moment in our lives.

(Quick shot of Adolin and Shallan embracing, foreheads touching, eyes closed)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Kaladin leaving Azimir, resigned, and lashing himself)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Szeth reaching into an alcove in a wall, and pulling out a small toy sheep. A tear falls down on the wool)

(Fade to black)

(Quick shot of Dalinar Kholin climbing the steps up to Urithiru, face stern, Way of Kings in hand, with a shadow looming over him (essentially the second piece of concept art Brandon released))

Remember.

Music explodes in rapid bursts

Black screen w/caption: Urithiru

(Quick shot of Renarin, Shallan and Rlain on the fields outside Urithiru, looking ominously into the distance)

Hope is wonderful.

Black screen w/caption: Shinovar

(Spinning camera around Szeth and Kaladin brandishing weapons back to back, but without clear view of who they're fighting)

Keep it.

Black screen w/caption: Azimir

(Quick shot of Adolin rushing across Fused forces in the dome in full plate, leaping over bodies and soldiers to get to Neziham)

Treasure it.

Black screen w/caption: The Shattered Plains

(Quick shot of Listeners riding Chasmfiends into battle on Narak Prime)

And if hope doesn't mean anything to you when you lose...

Black screen w/caption: Thaylenah

(Quick shot of Jasnah summoning Ivory while watching ships prepare for war in the harbor)

Black screen w/caption, in different, crackly font: The Spiritual Realm

(Quick shot of Dalinar and Navani pushing their way past human pilgrims during their arrival in Roshar)

Then it wasn't ever a virtue in the first place.

Fade to black. 

Music stops.

Azish general screaming hauntingly: HOOOOOOOOOLD!!

Silence.

Taravangian's voice, taunting: Dalinar, Dalinar, Dalinar...

(Close up of Taravangian's eyes flashing open, revealing infinite depths of gold and red)

Fade to black.

Hoid: This... it frightens me.

 

I haven't sent the email yet, btw - waiting for some feedback

read it again, and chills again

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

Alright - sending email in

Edited December 8, 2025 by Ookla the Redeemed

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

16 minutes ago, Ookla the Redeemed said:

Alright - sending email in

Good luck!

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

1 hour ago, Ookla the Dokja said:

Good luck!

Automated response:

Quote

Thank you for taking the time to write to me! I am likely working on your next book but I appreciate your support. I feel bad about this, but the days that I can respond to every piece of fan mail have passed me by. I have had to institute a system like this, where fan mail is sorted by members of my team. They do most of the replying these days; I do still see a lot of the fanmail, but answering it all personally wouldn’t leave me with any time for writing books. Rest assured that if there is something that needs my attention, they'll make sure I see it.   

Either way, though, you have my sincere thanks for reaching out. If there is something that requires a response, a member of my team will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you are curious what I’m actively working on right now, see my weekly updates on YouTube or catch me on any of my other social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). I hope to see you at a future convention or release party, and until then: Keep reading!

Sincerely,
Brandon Sanderson

 

 

P.S. If you are reaching out about an issue with a store order, a crowdfunding pledge, or our convention, please submit a support ticket. 

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

Hello, (Hoid)!

 

Thank you caring enough to share your writing with us. However, for legal reasons, Brandon and Team Dragonsteel cannot read unsolicited manuscripts or other writing submissions. We hope that you know that we truly appreciate your enthusiasm for Brandon and his stories!

 

Have a great day!

Team Dragonsteel

 

…

 

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

1 minute ago, Ookla the Redeemed said:

Hello, (Hoid)!

 

Thank you caring enough to share your writing with us. However, for legal reasons, Brandon and Team Dragonsteel cannot read unsolicited manuscripts or other writing submissions. We hope that you know that we truly appreciate your enthusiasm for Brandon and his stories!

 

Have a great day!

Team Dragonsteel

 

…

 

Huh

I wonder why

[Through the Living Hopper He/Him]

17 minutes ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

Huh

I wonder why

Maybe to prevent someone from accusing Brandon of stealing an idea from them.

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

17 minutes ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

Huh

I wonder why

Idk

Cause like I did link it but I also wrote it out in the email

Just now, ThatOneWorldhopper said:

Maybe to prevent someone from accusing Brandon of stealing an idea from them.

Ohhhhhhh could be that

[Usseewa ✾ She♡Her ✾]

Wow. That was amazing. I listened with the song playing, and it gave me goosebumps. I'd love to actually see this. I love the quotes you chose, they are very powerful.

[Through the Living Hopper He/Him]

On 8/5/2025 at 6:41 PM, Hoid Slayer said:

Hoid: Everything you've done - everything you've been - has prepared you for what's next.

I really like this line, but it's almost word for word MI-8. I read the trailer again and it somehow got better

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

1 hour ago, Theory said:

Wow. That was amazing. I listened with the song playing, and it gave me goosebumps. I'd love to actually see this. I love the quotes you chose, they are very powerful.

Thank youuuu

I spent a while picking out the quotes, so I’m glad you liked them!

1 hour ago, ThatOneWorldhopper said:

I really like this line, but it's almost word for word MI-8. I read the trailer again and it somehow got better

I don’t know what MI-8 is, but I’ll take the compliment

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

8 minutes ago, Hoid Slayer said:

Thank youuuu

I spent a while picking out the quotes, so I’m glad you liked them!

I don’t know what MI-8 is, but I’ll take the compliment

Mission Impossible

[Through the Living Hopper He/Him]

1 hour ago, Theory said:

Wow. That was amazing. I listened with the song playing, and it gave me goosebumps. I'd love to actually see this. I love the quotes you chose, they are very powerful.

Wait, what song?

[Usseewa ✾ She♡Her ✾]

11 hours ago, ThatOneWorldhopper said:

Wait, what song?

Half Light by BANNERS. The OP said it in the first post.

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

11 hours ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

Mission Impossible

Oooooh

Well, it’s a direct quote from Wind and Truth

4 minutes ago, Theory said:

Half Light by BANNERS. The OP said it in the first post.

Yup